11 are arrested in Iwilei ‘ice’ sting

Kalihi police responded to community complaints of drug dealing in their neighborhood and arrested 11 people this week on drug offenses on Akepo Lane in Iwilei.

Maj. Kurt Kendro said the one-way lane served as a drive-through for the 11 who allegedly dealt crystal methamphetamine at the makai end.

The arrests are the culmination of a four-month investigation dubbed "Operation Crushed Ice." Undercover police purchased "ice" from dealers and made their first arrests Tuesday. About 20 officers made undercover attempts to sell drugs there yesterday but made no sales.

Nine men ranging in age from 24 to 40 were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of methamphetamine trafficking and possession of drugs with the intent to distribute near a school. They are being held without bail at the federal detention center. Kaiulani Elementary School and Honolulu Community College are located nearby.

Two women, 30 and 39, face state charges of second-degree possession of dangerous drugs, a Class B felony, and face a maximum 10 years' imprisonment and a $25,000 fine.

Police seized a quarter-pound of methamphetamine with a street value of $16,000.

Residents describe living in fear

Residents of Akepo Lane had almost given up hope after living in fear and frustration for so long after drug dealers began taking over their parking area.

Until a few days ago, the gravel lot in front of a cluster of homes at the makai end of the lane, where about 10 families live, would be filled daily with the cars of alleged drug dealers, their customers and friends.

"Some buyers come drink until 2 or 3 in the morning," said resident Patricio Magsanide. "They never sleep."

Magsanide said he and many of the residents who work two jobs could not get enough sleep with round-the-clock noise from the fighting and drinking.

A neighbor with a fearful elderly mother called police often. "Every time, he called police but they never came," Magsanide said.

Police were not ignoring their complaints. After a four-month undercover operation, Kalihi police arrested 11 people this week on drug offenses.

Officers posing as buyers bought a quarter-pound of "ice," with a street value of $16,000, from suspected drug dealers. But when they returned yesterday posing as dealers, no one attempted to buy.

Nine men were indicted on federal drug charges, and two women were charged under state laws for felony drug possession.

Federal charges include possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school. Kaiulani Elementary School is on one side of the block, Honolulu Community College on the other.

"They're pretty much gone but I didn't know what happened," said a young man who asked not to be identified. "There's a lot more parking and no more loud music.

"We've been complaining," he said.

Many of the alleged dealers and homeless were sleeping in their cars and would defecate and urinate in the area. "Sometimes we step in the mess," Magsanide said.

"We used to fix our cars out there, but now we can't go outside," he said.

Last week, Magsanide had to replace a window on his truck that got broken on the street, at a cost of $700.

Another man had his windshield cracked from two men fighting, but police told them nothing could be done since the damage was unintentional.

There were also relationship fights, none of which made a good environment for the children who live there, Magsanide said.

Neighbors who live mauka on Akepo were aware of the alleged drug dealing.

"I just moved here," said one woman who was afraid to be identified. "I just found out but my lease is one year. I didn't know."

She has been afraid to step outside her parking lot. Now, she said, it "feels good, safe."

"The cleaner the neighborhood, the better," said another resident who also declined to give his name. "Less crimes in the area."

Except for one woman who said she was looking for her homeless friends, others who work and visit Akepo Lane were pleased to learn of the arrests.

Fred Kilbey, an employee at Sweet Leilani Florist at Akepo and Dillingham Boulevard, noticed their absence.

"I don't see them here," he said as he turned off the alarm on his truck parked on Akepo Lane. "I don't have to worry about keeping an eye on my truck."

Adeline Wilson must pass by the area to visit family living on Akepo Lane with her husband and young children.

The 11 people arrested

Nine men were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of methamphetamine trafficking and possession of drugs with the intent to distribute near a school. Two women face state charges of second-degree possession of dangerous drugs.